Samsung appears to have plans to formally end support for its legacy smartwatches running the Tizen operating system. This news comes from a recent report shared on the Galaxy Watch subreddit.
According to the report, Tizen’s sunset will affect all Galaxy Watch models launched before the Galaxy Watch 4. This includes, but is not limited to, the original Galaxy Watch, the Watch Active Duo, and the old Gear series. It only affects these older models, as the Galaxy Watch 4 marked the first time Samsung adopted Google’s WatchOS as its main platform.
However, the closure will not happen all at once. It will happen in waves from this year onwards. On September 30, 2024, the ‘Galaxy Store will stop selling paid Tizen Watch content’, such as applications and watch faces. Then, on May 31, 2025, the company will no longer allow “new downloads of free content” on their device. In June 2025, third-party services for Tizen hardware will end “everywhere except (from the) Galaxy Store.” You can still install software from the Samsung platform, but only for a few months, downloading purchased items will stop once the tech giant officially ends support for Tizen Watch.
Don’t worry about missing out on new apps, because the company has stopped doing that. On the Samsung Developer website, there’s a message that developer teams can no longer “register new or updated Tizen-based watch apps.” Instead, they refer these groups to the Galaxy Watch Studio Converter and Watch Face Studio software to help with the transition.
Limited functionality
Of course, you can use your Tizen wearable after September 30, 2025. It’s not like Samsung will flip a switch next year and brick your device, but it does mean you won’t be able to enjoy a fully functioning smartwatch. Affected models, such as the Watch Active 2, will continue to operate under heavy restrictions. This also means an end to security updates that leave users vulnerable to malware.
It looks like Samsung is trying to convince people to upgrade by purchasing a newer WearOS model. After all, we’re on the cusp of the release of the Galaxy Watch 7 – probably in August if history is any indication. But contemporary Galaxy Watches can be expensive – the Watch 6 typically sells for $380 on Amazon, although there’s a sale going on right now.
Interestingly, Samsung is currently running a special trade-in promotion for old Tizen models. At the time of writing this article, you can trade in an original Galaxy Watch and get up to $100 in credit toward a Watch 6. 9To5Google indicates that we assume the wearable is in good condition. The more it is, the less you get in return.
If you’re looking for other options, check out Ny Breaking’s roundup of the best smartwatches for 2024.